Rectifier.



W) MEYER.

RECTIFIER. APPLICATION FILED m'n.s0,19os.

972,892. Patented Oct. 18,1910.

W1 T/VESSES 65mm. jam Wm.

[NVE/VTOR WILLIAM MEYER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

RECTIFIER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 30, 1908.

Patented Oct. 18, 1910. Serial No. 424,230.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM MEYER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Rectifiers; and I dohereby declare the followin to be a full, clear, and exact description0% the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to whichit appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in alternating currentrectifiers, and the object in view is the rectifying of the sine wavesof the alternating current and the transformin of the current to adirect current for delivering a smooth, even current free fromfluctuations.

With this and further objects in view, the invention comprises certainnovel constructions, combinations and arrangements of parts as will behereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawing :Figure 1 is a conventional showing of astructure embodying the features of this invention. Fig. 2 is a graphicpresentation of the alternating current sine waves as ordinarilydelivered seen in full lines with the true sine curve indicated indotted lines.

It has been common heretofore to transform an alternating current into adirect current by a balanced system of asymmetrical cells, but thedirect current thus produced is of little or no value for therapeuticalpurposes, owing to the fact that the alternating current waves do notfollow the true sine curve, and therefore the direct current deliveredfrom the rectifier has heretofore been pulsating and as each fluctuationin potential produces a very painful sensation it has been common toobtain current by other sources as for instance from a battery ofgalvanic cells, but this latter method of obtaining current .has beenfound expensive, and the battery cumbersome to maintain.

I propose by the present invention to transform an alternating currentinto a direct current and to eliminate the pulsations from the current,and in order to accomplish this result I provide a structure asindicated in Fig. 1 of theaccompanying drawing, in which 1, 2 are theleads from an alternating current generator of any suitable type, thecurrent waves at the generator assuming the jagged or pointed linesindicated in Fig. 2, which, as stated above, render the currentobjectionable for medical use. In the length of the leads 1 and 2, Ilnterpose inductive resistances or reactances 3 which may be of theadjustable type if preferred, and as these resistances tend to preventthe rise of 'current, they also tend to prevent the dropping ofithereof, and hence tend to prevent jagged points on the sine curve," andthus the sudden rise of current is resisted as is also the sudden fallof current, and therefore the true sine curve is caused tobe approachedby the alternating current passing through reactances 3, 3, and thecurrent' is thus rendered substantially sinusoidal in its nature, andsuitable for administration to a patient, and may be taken off for thispurpose at points 4, 4.

Intermediate the length of the leads 1 and 2, a chemical, balancedrectifier 5 is arranged, and this rectifier may be of the known type,consisting of an equilateral quadrangle of conductors having interposedin each side an asymmetrical cell 6. Diametrically opposite corners ofthe quadrangle are in electrical communication with the respective leads1 and 2, and the other corners are engaged by conductors 7 and 8.

I have indicated by solid line arrows the direction of the positivecomponent of the alternating current and have indicated by dotted linearrows the direction of the negative component of the alternatingcurrent, assuming for the sake of description, that the rise of currentabove the neutral line is positive and the drop of the current below theline is negative. Thus it will be seen that the positive component ofthe current flowing from lead 1 will pass down one side of the rectifier5 and out through the conductor 7 passing at the terminal of saidconductor through the patient being treated and back through conductor 8to the opposite side of the rectifier 5 and'to the lead 2 back to thegenerator. The negative component starting 'at the generator flowsthrough lead 2 and through one side of the rectifier -5 to conductor 7and from the terminal thereof through the patient to conductor 8 andthrough the opposite side of the rectifier 5 to the lead 1 and'back tothe generator. It is, of course, understood that the asymmetrical cellsprevent the respec-' tive components from flowing in the wrong directionand the balanced arrangement of cording delivered at the terminals 9 and10 of conductors 7 and 8, while an alternating current is delivered fromthe terminals 4.

I have found that even with the reactances 3 interposed in the leads,there may still be some variations in current which are painful to thepatient, and to eliminate such variations and insure the delivery of aneven current, I bridge the conductors 7 and 8 by an interposedasymmetrical cell 11 similar in its construction to any one of the'cells 6, except posslbly as to size .or relative size of its parts, andthe consistency of its electrolyte. The cell 11 is connected byconductors 12 and 13 with the respective conduct ors 7 and 8, and theotential difference which may be maintained between the conductors 12and 13 by reason of resistance of cell 11 is standardized. That is tosay, for instance the aluminum electrode of the cell 11 which isconnectedto conductor 12, ac-

to the present accepted theory, will be coated with a filament ofaluminum oxid suflicient for resisting a current say of 150 volts, andtherefore a potential difference of 150 volts may be maintained at alltimes between the conductors 12 and 13, and when the current by anysudden fluctuation rises or attempts to rise in the conductor 7, thealuminum oxid filament will be broken down sufliciently to permit theexcess current to flow through the cell 11 to conductor 13 and toconductor 8 without passing out through the terminals 9 and 10, so thatthe terminals 9 and 10 will be maintained at a constant difierence ofpotential. Of course, the voltage named has merely been assumed for thepurpose of illustration, and the resistance of the cell 11 may be fixedat any desired standard which may be made variable as desired, y theprovision of means for varying the space between the electrodes or theamount of surface exposure' of the electrodes, or otherwise aspreferred.

Obviously the cell 11 constitutes an electrolytic battery, may consistof more than one cell, for as many cells may be provided as are foundbest adapted for accomplishing the. desired results, and in fact it. isobvious 'thatcmore or less cells may be, .switchedinto .and out of thebridge connections producedi'by conductors 12 and 13 with theirconnected battery for increasing. or decreasing the resistances of thebridge. It will be further obvious that the cell 11 and any other cellswhich may be used in the battery at this point will be arranged with thealuminum anode in. contact with the conductor 12, and the cathode incontact with the conductor 13.

and the battery if desired While the present invention is particularlyadapted for supplying current for therapeutical purposes, obviouslycurrent may be drawn from wires 7 and 8 for any purpose whatever,especially where evenness of current is desired.

I claim 1. In a device of the class described, the combination of areactance interposed in an alternating current circuit for causing thecurrent to approach the true sine curve for producing a sinusoidalcurrent, an asymmetric cell retifier for such circuit, and asymmetriccell shunted-across the leads from the rectifier said last-mentionedcell having an aluminum anoda 2. In a device of the class described, thecombination of a chemical rectifier interposed in an alternating currentcircuit, a reactanc'e interposed in each side of the circuit, conductorsfor delivering direct current from the rectifier, an asymmetric cellshunted across said conductors, and havin an aluminum anode andconductors for elivering alternating current from the rectifier suitablefor administration as a sinusoidal current.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination of a balancedchemical rectifier interposed in an alternating current circuit, meansinterposed in said circuit for nullifying fluctuations in the respectivecompo-.

nents of the alternatin current, and an asymmetric cell shunte acrossthe direct current leads from the rectifier said cell having an aluminumanode.

4.. In a device of the class described, the combination of a chemicalrectifier interposed in an alternating current circuit for transformingthe alternating current into a direct current, means interposed in thealternating current circuit for causing the current curve to approachthe true sine curve,

-and an asymmetrlc cell shunted across the conductors of the directcurrent circuit of the rectifier said last 'inentioned cell having analuminum anode.

5. In a device of the class described, the

combination with a chemical rectifier interposed in an alterfnatingcurrent circuit for delivering a uni-,directional current, and anasymmetric cell shunted across the direct current leads of the rectifierand disposed with the positive pole of the cell connected with thepositive lead, and the negative pole of the cell with the negative leadsaid cell having an aluminum anode.

6. In an alternating current rectifier, the combination with a chemicalrectifier interposed in an alternating current circuit, of anelectrolytic battery bridged across the direct current leads of thechemical-rectifier and having an aluminum anode and constructed to actas a condenser.

7. In an alternating current rectifier, a

balanced chemical rectifier interposed in an alternating currentcircuit, and an electrolytic battery bridged across the direct currentleads of the rectifier, each cell unit of said battery having analuminum anode. 8. In an alternatin current rectifier, a

balanced chemical rectlfier interposed analternating current circuit,and an asymmetrical cell bridged across the direct current poles of therectifier and arranged with the current resisting element of the. cellin communication with the positive direct current pole said cell havingan aluminum anode.

9. In an alternatin current rectifier, the

combination with an a ternating current circuit and a balanced chemicalrectifier interposed. therein and provided with asymmet-. rical cells,of means interposed in the alternating current circuit for reducingfluctuations of the respective components of the alternating current,and an asymmetrical.

cell bridged across the poles of the direct circuit from the rectifiersaid last mentioned cell having an aluminum anode.

10. In an alternating current rectifier, a

Ii chemical rectifier interposed in an alternatcurrent circuit, and anasymmetrical bridged across the direct current poles and having analuminum anode.

11. In an alternating current rectifier, a

chemical rectifier disposed in an alternatin current circuit, and anasymmetrical ce 1 bridged across the direct current leads of the Ichemical rectifier and having an aluminum

